When was the last time you looked up at the night sky and wondered what was out there? Whether you’re fascinated by space or simply curious about what lies beyond our planet, there’s plenty to explore above southeast Saskatchewan this October.
Local space enthusiast Arliss Sidloski recently joined us for a sky report, sharing several celestial sights worth watching for this fall. Grab your sweaters, hot chocolate and decide how you will view this month. You can sit and watch out your sunroof or windows but for the best views get a lawn chair or stand outside.
A meteor shower worth staying up for
One of October’s highlights is the Orionid meteor shower, “You can expect about 10 to 20 meteors an hour if you’re looking October 21st to 22nd, but it’ll be going on throughout the month,” said Sidloski.
The Orionids are created by debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. As Earth passes through that debris, tiny particles enter our atmosphere and create the streaks of light commonly known as shooting stars.
Although 10 to 20 meteors per hour may be visible under ideal conditions, moonlight could make some harder to spot this year.
If you’re hoping to catch a few, find somewhere away from city lights, dress warm, and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. The hours before dawn generally offer the best viewing opportunities.
There are more than meteors up there
If staying up for a meteor shower isn’t your thing, there are other celestial sights worth keeping an eye out for.
“Saturn is well placed for viewing this month,” Sidloski said.
The planet can be spotted in the evening sky, and with a telescope, you may even be able to see its famous rings.
Another sight to look for is the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters.
Sidloski described it as looking like a miniature Big Dipper. The cluster can be seen without a telescope under suitable viewing conditions.
Looking for another date to mark on your calendar? The Moon will appear close to the Seven Sisters in the night sky overnight Oct. 27-28.
Sometimes, the most interesting sights are right above us. We just have to know where to look.
Related Stories:
A Canadian among the stars
While we’re looking up, there’s also a Canadian making his mark in space.
Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk reportedly arrived at the International Space Station on Oct. 1, with two spacewalks scheduled for Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.
Kutryk and NASA astronaut Anil Menon are expected to help install new solar arrays that will provide additional power to the station.
You can follow along from right here on Earth. For anyone curious about what life and work look like beyond our planet, coverage of the mission and spacewalks will be available through NASA and the Canadian Space Agency.
Take a night to look up
You don’t need to be a scientist or own an expensive telescope to appreciate what’s happening in the sky.
Maybe you’ll catch a shooting star, spot Saturn or find the Seven Sisters. Or maybe you’ll simply spend a few moments outside wondering what else is out there.
We spend so much of our lives looking down at our phones, rushing through our routines and focusing on what’s right in front of us, sometimes it’s worth remembering there’s an entire universe beyond us and we’re only a small speck of our beautiful galaxy.
With so much happening above Weyburn this October, take one of these fall nights to look up.
As Sidloski put it, “Happy stargazing, everyone!”
Pictured below are images of the Andromeda Galaxy, the Orion Nebula, and the Pleiades Star Cluster (aka the Seven Sisters)